Equity Method Investments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			22 Months Ended		12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended			45 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	May 31, 2012 Cardinal Pipeline Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Cardinal Pipeline Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Cardinal Pipeline Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Cardinal Pipeline Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Cardinal Pipeline Company [Member]	Jun. 22, 2012 Cardinal Pipeline Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Pine Needle Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Pine Needle Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Pine Needle Company [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 South Star Energy Services [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 South Star Energy Services [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 South Star Energy Services [Member]	Jan. 01, 2010 South Star Energy Services [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Piedmont Hardy Storage [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Piedmont Hardy Storage [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Piedmont Hardy Storage [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Piedmont Hardy Storage [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Piedmont Hardy Storage [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Retained Earnings, Undistributed Earnings from Equity Method Investees	$ 0
Equity Method Investment Ownership Percentage					21.49%			21.49%		40.00%			15.00%				50.00%
Pipeline Subscription Capacity Percentage					100.00%
Pipeline Transportation Capacity Subscribed				37.00%	53.00%												100.00%
Related Party Transaction Expenses From Transactions With Related Party					6,613,000	4,104,000	4,104,000			10,410,000	10,677,000	12,158,000					9,702,000	9,702,000	9,386,000
Due To Related Parties Current					855,000	349,000		855,000		914,000	849,000						808,000	808,000
Due From Related Parties Current													473,000	736,000
Summarized Financial Information Percentage					100.00%	100.00%	100.00%			100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%		100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Current Assets					9,179,000	25,868,000		9,179,000		11,937,000	10,984,000		152,422,000	169,286,000			10,302,000	7,358,000
Non Current Assets					120,437,000	88,329,000		120,437,000		77,463,000	74,472,000		9,803,000	9,292,000			164,374,000	167,221,000
Current Liabilities					1,786,000	5,665,000		1,786,000		4,278,000	1,826,000		42,197,000	62,869,000			14,534,000	10,945,000
Non Current Liabilities					45,702,000	24,225,000		45,702,000		35,851,000	35,657,000		1,000	141,000			95,061,000	102,490,000
Revenues					16,165,000	13,633,000	13,633,000			16,390,000	17,666,000	18,808,000	585,291,000	733,987,000	843,483,000		24,359,000	24,378,000	23,562,000
Gross Profit Loss					16,165,000	13,633,000	13,633,000			16,390,000	17,666,000	18,808,000	161,122,000	176,010,000	183,748,000		24,359,000	24,378,000	23,562,000
Income Before Income Taxes					10,433,000	6,473,000	6,375,000			5,832,000	5,763,000	8,317,000	94,631,000	103,704,000	107,096,000		9,939,000	9,657,000	8,249,000
Storage Capacity Subscription Percentage										100.00%							40.00%
Storage Capacity Subscribed To By Piedmont										64.00%
South Star Energy Pre Sale Percentage																30.00%
Gross Proceeds From Sale Of South Star Interest																57,500,000
After Tax Gain From Sale Of South Star Interest															30,300,000
After Tax Gain From Sale Of South Star Interest Per Diluted Share															$ 0.42
Related Party Transaction Revenues From Transactions With Related Party													2,442,000	4,961,000	5,083,000
Related Party Financing Guarantee Percentage																				50.00%
Contributions to equity method investments	3,566,000	6,222,000	0		3,600,000			9,800,000
Guaranty Liabilities																				1,200,000	0
Percentage Of Total Ownership Interest Sold																50.00%
Distributions of capital from equity method investments	5,372,000	3,029,000	18,260,000		5,400,000
Cardinal Permanent Financing									$ 45,000,000